My wife and I set out for an adventure from East Vancouver, heading to Dog Creek Falls, which we…read morereached in about an hour. The falls are conveniently located right off the highway, with ample parking available. In fact, we had the place to ourselves for the first 25 minutes or so. From the parking lot, it's just a short, easy walk--about 100 yards--to the falls. The waterfall is absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear water cascading into a serene, picturesque setting that feels tucked away from the world.

A small waterfall...especially if compared to the endless supply of spectacular falls along the…read moreColumbia Gorge. There's a nice sign for Dog Creek easily seen when traveling along the 14. If you're heading west you might not see the turnoff to the parking area until you pass it. There's a decent amount of parking available, but no toilet or trash bins. Dog Creek is sweet and in a peaceful setting. The falls are easily seen from the highway, but a very short path leads from the lot to the water. A small and simple single drop falls comes down from the canyon, however we took the drone up and could see there's quite a bit more to the river and falls higher up...we did not attempt to venture up there though. There's a small pool at the base of the falls and great shade. I could see it be a nice place for families to picnic and kiddos to splash around in the summer. In an area full of fabulous hikes and sites Dog Creek Falls might not stand out, but it's a easy place to stop off the highway and quickly enjoy a falls with the fam.

Best time for this hike is end of April and May when the wildflowers are in bloom and cover the…read morehillsides with purple widow's grass, yellow balsam root, blue lupine and lavendar bachelor buttons. It's my favorite time to be in this area! Best place to park is right before the Mosier Creek Bridge as you leave the tiny two block downtown area. As you begin the hike you come to the cemetery of the founding father's of this charming town. Continue for another 10 minutes to the falls and the swimming hole below. The falls are small, not like the 7 popular falls you see along the Old Historic Highway by Multnomah Falls, but still lovely. Continue on and up where views of the Columbia River from this vantage point are breathtaking. The river widens In this area and slight turns as it makes it's way through Mosier and onto Rowena making for a beautiful vista to take in and photo ops. Unlike at Rowena Plateau and Tom McCall Preserve, dogs are allowed on these trails.

Pretty fun trail with a variety of sites!…read more There's a small parking area right in town just on the other side of the bridge from where the trail begins. You can make a very short hike of it and just go to the falls. Or you can continue on from there and complete the approximately 3 mile out and back with a small loop at the top...I recommend the latter. There's nice signage at the start explaining some trail details. You'll pass by a cool, tiny cemetery and venture on to the falls. Mosier Falls was a bit more substantial than I'd expected, set in a pretty canyon with an overlook for your viewing pleasure. Should you wish to continue on the trail...and you really should...you'll start up the side of the hill on switchbacks and stairs to the top. Tiny flowers popping up were blanketing the entire hillside, and I'm guessing it'll be quite a show in couple of weeks. After zigging and zagging multiple times you'll reach the top and come to an overview with spectacular views of the gorge. There's a bench there should you need a little rest or just wish to sit and take in the view for a bit. From the viewpoint you'll see the dirt trail continue on. It meanders further down to the end of the line...a short loop that offers even more gorge views. The trail is quite narrow and fairly unshaded most of the way and there are regular signs warning hikers of private property lines. We enjoyed it on a Saturday morning, along with quite a few other hikers. It's a decent workout, a pretty waterfall, and some beautiful gorge views...not too shabby!

This review is for Lower Falls Creek Trail which was a ~3.2 miles round trip that took ~1.5 hours…read moreto complete. Just 50 mins away from Multnomah Falls; we decided to cross the Bridge Of The Gods into Washington! There was a $3 toll fee at the bridge (class 1 vehicle). Trail was narrow for the most part where you will need to stop to let others pass. Overall, not too difficult with a stunning waterfall at the end! Required to drive on dirt road to reach the trailhead. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/O3n5GA00KA4

Great out and back at approximately 3 miles RT. The falls are so spectacular, a much longer trek…read morewould be perfectly acceptable! The trail itself is pretty narrow at times, we had to pull off often to let others through from the opposite direction. The environment is lovely, beautiful trees and the wonderful sounds of rushing water. When you approach the falls it's pretty jaw-dropping. From a distance, peeking through the trees the anticipation of what's coming is energizing. Once you arrive there are large boulders and layers to climb around to get different views (warning, some spots slippery). Although you can't possibly see the top areas of the falls fully, what you get to see is simply gorgeous. A beautiful pool and forest surroundings, along with a waterfall of spectacular height with a plethora of refreshing spray...what more could you want?! I've taken in quite a few falls in the area and so far this one takes the cake. Definitely worth a trek to see in person, as pictures do not do it justice. Would LOVE to see this hike and falls snow-covered too!

A simple yet beautiful trail that is fully paved and meanders down towards the river providing…read morevast, expansive views of the magnificent Columbia River. If you visit during wildflower season, it's even more beautiful with colorful wildflowers covering the fields. This trail is one of the few ADA accessible, which I really appreciate. While I do not use a wheelchair, I do have a disability and my legs can not handle the dirt and rock trails that are uneven. So having a paved path means that I can enjoy the gorgeous nature in this area. Wildflower season ranges from end of March to June, but every year is different based on the weather. This year (2022) was a very cold and rainy spring which delayed and prolonged the season. In April the hills were covered in yellow balsomroot and then blue lupine. End of May and heading into June, the next wave of flowers brings shades of blue from the delicate cornflowers with California poppies providing vibrant pops of orange Along the way. It's stunning! Wildflower season is my favorite season! Along the path there are many benches for those wanting to just relax and chill; some in the shade, some in the sun. There are also placards providing info on the area, the wildflowers, and the importance of pollination. The Catherine Creek paved trail is south of the parking area, which is a gravel section along Highway 8. Cross the street, the access is just past the porta potty. If you want the Catherine Creek Arch trail, it is on the same side as the parking, just head up the hill on the dirt trail. It's an easy 1.5 mile paved path that does have some declines and inclines as you make your way down, around, and then back up. If you head clockwise, you can see the creek to your left. If you decide to go off the paved path down to the creek, know there is a lot of poison oak and ticks. I stayed on the path, which is clear and well maintained. Note for wheelchair users - the path is wide and paved, but there are some areas where it slopes down and then makes it way back up. Another great thing about Catherine Creek Trail and Catherine Creek Arch Loop is that parking is free, no day pass required. The parking area is on the smaller side and on weekends, especially during wildflower time, it does get crowded. I went midweek and there was plenty of parking and I only came across two people on the path. Great for people of all ages and skills. For expert hikers, do the Catherine Arch first then finish with Catherine Creek.

The trailhead was pretty busy Saturday afternoon, but there's a decent amount of parking along Old…read moreHwy 8 at the head. There are trails on both sides of the Hwy...according to the trail map only two above 8 and one below within Catherine Creek, but another trail leads towards Coyote Wall. We only took one uphill loop this day. The trails are quite narrow and the footing mostly uneven and rocky. The views are stunning throughout, and the flowers are emerging. As the trails wind mostly through the open ridge there is almost no shade...sunblock sunblock! It's an enjoyable spot for a hike for sure, although for me not quite AS pretty as the nearby Labyrinth Trail. We will definitely return to complete the other trails...good times.

I LOVED this trail. So much fun with so much to see along the way and gorgeous views of the gorge…read moreand Mt Hood. The Labyrinth links to a few trails including Coyote Wall. Although the Labyrinth alone is shown as a 3 1/2 mile out and back there is a link trail at Labyrinth Falls that shoots over the ridge and towards Little Maui Falls Trail and Coyote, as well as a signed junction pointing you towards each falls. These trails are clearly popular with bikers and hikers. Signage states that dogs have to be leashed December to July. Aside from the constant epic views, the landscape is unique with streams, falls, springtime flowers, and (I assume) ground squirrels popping up and down from their homes. We started at the trailhead at the junction of Old Hwy 8 and the 14 at Rowland Lake. There's a small parking area there with more parking along the 8. The trail actually starts by heading up the semi-creepy abandoned hwy 8 where you'll quickly encounter Lower Labyrinth Falls. Soon you'll encounter trail signage that'll lead you on your way. Just a stunning trail, other worldly. We only covered part of the trails available in the area and can't wait to return for more!

This is one of the best hikes I've ever been on. It was extremely tough, but absolutely worth it…read more The wildflowers were breathtaking. Extremely windy and foggy at the top. It was rough but I would do it again!

I just did this trail with a local hiking group a few nights ago, and it was hard!…read more We met up in the parking lot at about 6pm, and were on the trail by 615. It took us until about 830 to reach the summit. It's about 3 miles each way, depending which path you take. After about the first mile, the trail splits into "difficult" and "more difficult." We took the difficult side up, and it was pretty steep at times. Most of the trail was relatively wide and smooth, but there were a few rocky/root-y sections. In the last half mile to the top, the blackberry shrubs were taller than I am. The path was so overgrown that we had to push through the branches with our whole bodies. About half a mile from the top, there is a great viewpoint called Puppy Point where you can see the Gorge in both directions, especially to the west. When I saw how much balsam root there was on the hillsides, it made me regret not doing this hike sooner. Now I'm going to have to come back sometime to do it in spring. Once we got to the top, everyone else in the group started sitting down to watch the sunset. I'd forgotten my sweater and headlamp in my car, and I was getting cold. I asked the group how long they thought we would take to hike down, and they said two hours. This was when I decided to part ways. It took me one hour to get down. Good thing my phone was fully charged, because, I needed the flashlight. I accidentally took the more difficult route down, which explains why it seemed steeper than I remembered. For a 6 mile hike, this is a really good hike. My thighs almost feel as ripped as if I just hiked Dipsea or Half Dome.

Great hike good views to get to the punch bowl water fall took about a hour and a hour to get back…read morebut you can keep walking after that fall if you like longer hikes o recommend going early to find parking

Eagle Creek is now on my top 10 of hikes of all time…read more SO many waterfalls on one trail :') AND I didn't even get to see all of them! I did the 10 miles round trip to Tunnel Falls, and boy, was it well worth it. It was mostly flat with some twists and turns, gradual inclines, and narrow walkways. Good thing I had snacks, a lunch wrap, and a smoothie because that helped me get through! If you're up for it, this is a MUST! Btw it's salmon spawning season, and you can see all of the salmon swimming upstream at the very start of the trail. So cool!

Latourell Falls is the second biggest one is the Columbia Scenic Driveway. There's a parking lot…read moreand road side parking available. There are two paths from the lot, one through stairs to an observation deck, and another one down the trail to the bottom of the fall. The trail is short 2 minutes walk on even path. Dress properly for wet and misty weather, and have proper shoes. The prime location is corner spot right in front of the fall. The pathway continues thru an old bridge. You can actually walk behind the waterfall following the path, the unique aspect of the waterfall. When we arrived at the fall, parking lot was full, so we parked on the side of the road. The trail was little wet, so we walked carefully to the prime spot. The fall looked stunning. The water flow was much stronger than other falls. Some visitors were brave to walk all the way to the back of the fall. This was my favorite fall among all of them in the area.

Latourell Falls doesn't scream for attention like the big-name spots, but it should. You get that…read moreclean, straight drop of water cutting down a cliff that looks like it was built in layers just to show off. No drama, no overcomplicated tiers... just gravity doing its job perfectly. The real win here is the surroundings. Everything feels thicker, quieter, and more wrapped in forest. Moss on everything, trees leaning in like they're watching, and that old bridge tucked into the background like it's slowly being reclaimed. Compared to the others: Less crowded, which already puts it ahead Short walk to the main view, but still has trails if you want more Feels more natural, less like a tourist checkpoint You can stand there and actually hear the water instead of a dozen people narrating their lives. That alone is worth the stop. Only downside: It's easy to underestimate. People hit it quick and leave, not realizing this is one of the cleaner, more honest views in the Gorge.

When researching hiking trails to add to our vacation itinerary, I chose Hamilton Mountain Trail…read morebecause of the waterfalls..Pool of The Winds, Hardy Falls, & Rodney Falls and also, because it was located across the way from Beacon Rock. It was perfect weather for our hike on September 3, 2021 & it took my hubby & I almost 2 hours to hike up to the Pool of The Winds waterfall & back down. We did make multiple stops along the trail to take pictures/videos & to catch our breath. :)) While, I don't consider myself an avid hiker, I do consider myself in pretty good shape BUT I did NOT feel in good shape a few times during our hike up Hamilton Mountain! Going straight up that mountain is no joke! No worries though, I pulled through & made my way up that mountain & back down w/out any assistance...barely! :)) There are a few spots where the climb is very steep & slippery so be mindful of your steps. For sure having actual hiking boots would have served me better than the running shoes, I had on. Okay, so enough of my "out of shape" info..let's move on to the awesomeness of Hamilton Mountain Trail. As you are climbing up the trail, you're surrounded by huge trees & everything around you is so still & just peaceful. There is a small bench for sitting along the way & if you keep going pass that, you eventually come to an open clearing and the waterfalls. The waterfalls themselves are just so awesome! Mother Nature really is displaying her best work when you're standing right next to a waterfall! The Pool of The Winds waterfall was my favorite & there's a bridge right beneath it that is the perfect picture backdrop. I also wanted to add that it wasn't crowded at all during our visit & we did go on a Saturday around 2:30pm. Lastly, there was plenty of parking & a restroom at the beginning of the trail head. Hope this info helps! ~Rebecca out

We hiked Beacon Rock the day before, and this trail is right across the street. In fact, you can…read moreget a good view of Beacon Rock through the trees from the Upper Parking Lot. The hike to Rodney Falls and Pool of the Winds seemed do-able, and we had a short amount of time, so we thought we could knock it out. As we started out, we learned that it had a pretty steep incline, and was a bit of a butt burner on the way up. I'm not an avid hiker, so let's just say I had a bit of a rough time (gasp) with lots of stops for photos (read: to catch my breathe). There are tons of trees for shade, with a few sun spots here and there. Just as I thought I couldn't hike another step, a fellow hiker offered encouragement, letting me know it was just a few minutes farther. And boy was it worth it. Pool of the Winds is a gorgeous falls with a clear pool of mountain water. And there are several spots to get good views of Rodney Falls and to continue on the hike if you choose (I did not!). Easy time going down. Quite a few people had hiking poles, to make it easier on the knees. I'd call this a success! (even with sore legs for a day or two afterward).